More than half the water in Georgia is used to make electricity. From nuclear to hydro-power, just about every river in the state has some kind of power plant on its banks. But as Georgia’s population and energy needs grow, there are concerns about the health of rivers, especially in times of drought.

How the state regulates large-scale farm waste is under scrutiny. A federal review says 70 percent of the farms don’t have proper oversight. The U.S. Inspector General’s office report says there’s a significant risk that Georgia’s supervision of farm animal waste disposal doesn’t protect water quality.

Officials with the state Environmental Protection Division say a chemical spill in Athens that contaminated a creek and killed thousands of fish was unavoidable. They say the site is being closely monitored and that chemical levels continue to decrease.

Tonight state officials will hold a public hearing in Early County on an emissions permit for a proposed coal fired power plant there. The state wants to allow fewer hazardous air pollutants, but environmental groups say that is impossible.